Schock takes issue with new regs

Standing in front of a conference table stacked with piles of paper adding up to 13 feet in height to represent regulations put into effect this year, U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock said Tuesday that federal rule-making has gotten out of control.

Standing in front of a conference table stacked with piles of paper adding up to 13 feet in height to represent regulations put into effect this year, U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock said Tuesday that federal rule-making has gotten out of control.

The Peoria Republican labeled the increase, which he said has come thanks to President Barack Obama's administration, "one of the most unnecessary cost burdens to employers." He vowed to speak out on specific regulations in the future in an attempt to roll them back.

The 25,348 pages of new rules imposed by Uncle Sam since Jan. 1 represent a $42.5 billion impact on industry which "forces them to take capital away from growing their business" and creates uncertainty among people who are bracing for the next potential hit, he said.

In some cases there are clear job losses associated with the regulations, Schock said. He cited a new federal clean air mandate last year that Ameren said forced the closure of two coal-fired power plants earlier this year, resulting in the elimination of "90 high-wage, union jobs" in Meredosia and Hutsonville - the former within the second-term lawmaker's district.

Throughout the district, Schock said that other, smaller regulations have similar impacts. He once again referred to an almost-implemented rule that would have required motorized chair lifts to be installed at all public swimming pools to comply with a new rule added onto the two-decade-old Americans With Disabilities Act. Many area pools, he said, had purchased the $15,000 piece of machinery before the rule was withdrawn.

Schock said House members have passed on a bipartisan basis almost 30 pieces of legislation offering regulatory relief, but so far only one - the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act - has gotten a Senate vote and been signed into law.

Chris Kaergard can be reached at 686-3135 or ckaergard@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisKaergard.